St. Paul daily globe., 1887-07-02
YALE'S POWERFUL STROKE.
1t Was Slower Than Harvard's, But it
Carried the Blue Ribbon to
the Front.
The Great Annual Race Between the
Colleges Witnessed by an In
mense Throng.
For Two Miles it Was Very Close, and
Then Yale Pulled Away, Win
ming Easily.
Yesterdays Events on the Turf at Chi
cago and Sheepshead Bay---To-
Day at Hamline.

NEW LONDON, Con-, July 1.-The
twelfth annual four-mile straight-away
race between the eight-oared crews rep
reSenting Yale and Harvard universities
was rowed this evening over the
Thames river course from Gales ferry
to Winthrop point, and was won by
Yale by five and One-half lengths. Off
cial time: Yale 22.56, Harvard 23.1012.
The attendance was something unpre-
cedented. The scenes along the course
from start to finish were very striking.
The observation train contained twenty
four well-packed cars. The grand stand
at the finish was crowded. Three large
steamers took large crowds up the river
and there were thirty-eight large steam
and schooner .yacntS, besides innumer-
able other crafts anchored along the
last mile of the course, the crowd being
estimated at $1,000 people. The water
was
IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.,
being nearly slack and being ruff1ed
only by a slight westerly breeze blow
cree signalled for the crews, and at I'll
Harvard pushed off from her float and
padded over towards the starting point.
Yale did not leave her float until 7:1S.
Both crews padded to the referees
boat and were given their final inStruc-
tiOnS, after which they backed into
position, Yale having the west and Har-
ward the east course. This was Yale's
vantage point, but it proved of little
real benefit. At 7:2S the word was
given, both crews catching the water
very quickly, Harvard gaining a slight
advantage. Both crews started at d
thirty-siX stroke, but after the first
minute dropped to SO and "a
Yale, and in the first One-eighth of
mile led by a half length. Both crews
were pulling i'll perfect form and the
excitement was intense.
YALE'S POWERFUL STROKE
however. soon sent her shell up inch by
inch. until at the half mile flag both
boats. as seen from the press boat, were
bow and bow, though the official time
gives Harvard lead of 2 seconds. Har-
wards time here was 1854 and Yale'S
2:56. Both crews pulling In fine form,
the body and oar movement OF each
crew being as one man. Just after
passing the half mile flag, Yale dropped
her stroke to 30. Harvard pulling "a and
35. The exhibition of rowing in this
half mile (the second) was very fine.
Both crews were putting in their best
efforts. but Yale'S slow stroke proved
more effective and her boat crept slowly
to the front and as they passed the mile
at 500 and 5:23 Yale was just showing
clear water ahead of Harvard'S bow.
The second half mile was the
FASTEST OF THE RACE,
Yale doing it in 2:24 and Harvard IN
2:29. ALI through the third half Yale
kept her stroke down to 81 and 33, when
inn
they neared the navy yard Yale began
to forge ahead. and showed twenty feet
of clear water between the boats. Up
to this point the race had been one of
the most hOtly contested ever roWed be-
tween crews from these two colleges.
Off the navy yard Harvard spurted and
made a grand effort to close the gap,
but Yale responded nObly and at the
tWo-mile flag had increased her lead to
length and half, passing that point
in II :0935. Harvard in 11:14119. At this
point the race was practically settled.
Yale was pulling in excellent form, and
her powerful stroke sent the boat along
at a rattling gait. Harvard was also
pulling in good form, but her stroke
seemed to have lost its effectiveness. In
the fifth half Yale gained five seconds,
and having the race we'll III hand
DROPPED HER STROKE
TO so and 81, Harvard still rowing 33 and
"a. In the sixth half Yale made an ad-
ditional gain of seven and one-ilalf sec
onds and passed the three mile flag in
14:14 with lead Of four lengths, Har-
wards time IA %. 1t began to look like
procession, especially as i'll the seventh
half Yale added fifth of length to
her credit. doing the half in 2:5l19 to
Haryard's 2:5414 and passing the three
n holf mill fn
Harvard'S 20:191S. In the last half mile
Harvard made desperate effort to les
sen Yale's lead, but it was of little
avail. Yale maintained her slow swing
ing stroke, paying very little attention
to what Harvard was doing and dashed
across the finishing line in % :56 an easy
winner by four or five lengths. Har-
wards time 23:1053. when the Yale
men stOpped,rowing, Gill who pulled:No.
2. fell back in his seat exhausted. being
overcome by the strain and excitement.
NEW HAVEN GOES WILD.
NEW HAVEN, Conn.,, July Never
since the foundation of Yale college has
there occurred such q celebration of
a college athletic victory as occurred in
this city tonight. The news of Yale's
victory reached here at 7:50, and in less
than ten minutes the town was ab;aZe
with fireworks. the college chapel aud
church bells were ringing and the whCie
town was wild with excitement. Presi
dent Dwight threw his hat in the air
and waved his cane with delight
when he heard the news. The
special train bearing the victorious
crew arrived at II 80 O'clock and very
speedily the victors were lifted to the
top of the Tally-ho coach. which their
enthusiastic associates had provided.
Headed by band and several thousand
people the crew were driven to the
campus, where large fires were kindled
and fireworks discharged until morn
ing. During the tour of the procession
President Dwight was serenaded and,
Notwithstanding the lateness of the
hour, he appeared and congratulated
the crew in ten-ninute sneech.